The community came out in numbers to support the 30th Anniversary UNCF Los Angeles Walk for Education last month in Exposition Park. The annual walkathon raises scholarship funds for deserving and under-served African American and minority youths. Chris Schauble, co-anchor, KTLA 5 Morning News returned as master of ceremonies along with the Black Greeks for HBCUs honorary chairpersons, LAUSD School Board Member, Marguerite La Motte and Actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymah of That’s So Raven, In Living Color and Cosby. City Councilmember Jan Perry was in attendance and offered remarks about the relevancy of UNCF and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

‘Every step we take in Southern California brings us that much closer to sending more kids to college and fulfilling President Barack Obama’s commitment for America to regain world leadership in the number of college graduates by 2020,” said Curtis R. Silvers, Jr., UNCF Area Director, Los Angeles. “UNCF’s Walk for Education is an opportunity for the community to rally together to help children to get the college education our nation needs them to have in order to compete in a global economy.”

Southern California Edison (SCE) served again this year as the presenting sponsor and led with the most corporate team walkers along with support from Union Bank, BP, Superior Grocers, American Airlines, Toyota, Mattel, Southern California Gas Company/Sempra Energy, Inter-Alumni Council of Los Angeles, Valley Fruits and Tropicana.

There is no magic formula for success; every person finds his or her unique path. But in today’s world, nearly every success story shares one common element, higher education. For that reason, the United Negro College Fund – the nation’s oldest minority higher education assistance organization – continues its commitment to providing educational opportunity for financially disadvantaged minority youth. For additional information about UNCF or willing to volunteer, please contact the Los Angeles Area Office at 213.639.3800 and help them carry out the mission implicit in its motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”